Epic is working on a new weapon system for Fortnite: Battle Royale. An corresponding test server was mistakenly live at the beginning of the year. This test server will be activated again – and this time it is planned! You can look forward to these changes in the weapon system.
That Epic is tinkering with a new weapon system has been known for some time. At the beginning of the year, players were able to test an early version of the changes for a short time. This was not planned; Epic took the server offline back then.
Nevertheless, the constructive and detailed feedback from the community, which was also considered in the further process, was greatly appreciated.
Epic has now explained the goals of the new weapon system in a blog post and presented the concrete changes on a test server that will soon be available to all players.
The goals of the new weapon system from Fortnite: Battle Royale
Lead Systems Designer Eric Williamson has gone into more detail in this blog post about what changes players can expect in the weapon system. According to Williamson, Epic has oriented itself towards the following goals in designing the system:
- Goal 1: Precision shots from a great distance should not be possible with the pistol.
- Goal 2: Weapons should differ enough to allow for various play styles. Distance to the target, type of target, available ammunition, etc. should play a crucial role in this.
More and more players are using suppressed pistols instead of the standard assault rifle, as they are extremely powerful in skilled hands – regardless of the distance to the opponent. Epic wants to put a stop to this play style.
Instead, players should think for themselves about which weapon to use for which range. There is no longer the one patent solution, as Epic is working on damage fall-off based on range and reduced critical damage.
These are the changes to the weapons of Fortnite: Battle Royale
Epic places particular emphasis on the accuracy of the first shot. This is the core of the current test:
- Weapons now receive additional accuracy on the first shot. This is represented by the red glow of the reticle. This effect occurs in the following situations:
- Standing still
- Aiming (not firing from the hip)
- Spread radius at maximum target accuracy (i.e. in plain language: If you haven’t fired for a while. This differs for each weapon.)
- Critical damage from headshots has been reduced.
- Shotguns now deal 150% damage (previously 250%).
- All other weapons that allow critical hits from headshots now deal 200% damage (previously 250%).
- Some weapons now deal less damage over distance.
- Up to a specified distance, weapons deal 100% damage.
- Damage reduction begins at various ranges (depending on the weapon) until only 70% damage is dealt.
- Sniper rifles, rocket/grenade launchers, and shotguns are not affected.
- Further balance adjustments
- The semi-automatic sniper rifle now deals 75/78 damage (previously 63/66).
- The scoped assault rifle now deals 25/26 damage (previously 23/24).
- All submachine guns receive +2 base damage.
The direction is clear – more weapon diversity depending on the distance to the target. The impact of these changes on the weapons is still unclear; however, a few considerations can be made:
- The suppressed pistol will lose significance, unless the user prefers an aggressive play style,
- Pump shotguns (especially in double form) currently represent the best choice for close combat. Due to the reduced headshot damage, the tactical shotgun could gain significance, as it has a higher fire rate.
- The scoped assault rifle will gain significance due to the increased damage and presumably higher range compared to standard assault rifles. However, sniper rifles will still shine at long distances.
- Submachine guns could take on a completely new place – in the range between shotguns and assault rifles and finally becoming a valid option due to the increased base damage.
Every player is invited to participate in the tests. It is scheduled to start soon, on February 5th. All your statistics will also apply in test mode – victories will count normally!
Are you looking forward to the test? Will you participate?
